Illuminated compacts



1964 P. K. RITTER ETAL 3,163,364

ILLUMINATED COMPACTS Filed March 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 5 52 53am Pi/3:325

AWZLwWWaM 14770RNEY6 Dec. 29, 1964 P. K. RITTER ETAL 3,163,364

ILLUMINATED COMPACTS Filed March 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l VEN TOR.

%Z44W W@M ATTORNEYS United StateS Patent 1 3,163,364 ILLUMINATED COMPACTS Paul K. Ritter, 300 E. Pearl St, and Robert M. Pilditch,

2801 Garfield Ave., both of Bay City, Mich.

Filed Mar. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 179,961 1 Claim. (Cl. 2406.45)

This invention relates to illuminated compacts and has for its primary object the provision of means for illuminating the interior of a compact in which make-up articles are carried, as well as reflecting light upon the com:

pact to illuminate the face of the person using the compact for make-up purposes.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design an illuminated compact of simple and tasty design provided with a light source and battery adapted to be auto matically energized when the compact cover is swung to open position. 1

Another object is to design a compact, including a battery, light bulb, and switch unit, detachably mounted in one end of the case with the light bulb projecting upwardly at an angle through an opening in the face of the cover so that the users face is clearly illuminated in the mirror when the cover is in its open position.

Another object is to provide a manually actuated switch means for energizing the bulb so that it can be used to serve as a flashlight when the cover is closed, to light dark places, illuminate seat numbers, objects, make-up equipment, locate articles droppedin dark places, and otherwise'use it as a flashlight. 1 7

Another object is to provide a compact case of neat and pleasing design in which the illuminating means is mounted in the one end of the case as a unit, the assembly being easily accessible for replacement or removal of the light bulb and/ or battery when necessary.

Still a further object is to design a compact case which can be economically manufactured and assembled, which is of neat and pleasing appearance, and which can be mass produced with the savings incident thereto.

A further object still is to design a compact case provided with a light source for automatically energizing the light source when the case is opened, together with auxiliary switch means whereby the light source can be energized when the cover is in closed position.

Still a further object is to design a readily removable light source which can be easily removed from the compact and used as a flashlight when desired.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of our new compact with the tray cover in open position.

\ FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the tray cover in position on the tray.

FIG. 3 is a view also similar to FIG. 1 showing the tray cover removed and the auxiliary switch means for energizing the light bulb when the cover is in closed position.

FIG. 4 is an edge elevational view of the case with the cover swung to open position, the arrows indicating the light rays from the bulb.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view showing the light source and the auxiliary switch means.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 showing the cover for the tray.

FIG. 7 is an enlaIged, fragmentary, sectional, elevational, end view showing the automatic switch means.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the cover raised clear of the automatic switch.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevational view showing an alternate switch construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which we have shown our improved, illuminated compact which comprises a body member 10, flat in conabove the side walls 18 of the body, while the opposite end wall 19 is of less height, and dimples 20 are provided on the one side wall and, engage other dimples 21 provided in the side wall 17 of the body so that the tray is assembled sidcwise to fit snugly in the hinged endsection of the compact.

A bulb mounting section 22 is punched in the bottom wall 23 of the tray 15 and is upwardly bent as shown, an opening 24 being provided in said section and releasably accommodates a light bulb L which is disposed at an angle upwardly from the bottom wall of the tray.

Transversely spaced apart ears 25 are punched from the bottom wall 23 of the tray,vand openings (not shown) are provided in each ear, said ears being bent upwardly battery contact 28 as shown, the opposite leg 29 is also endwise disposed, theend section having a twist as at 30 so that it lies in flat parallel relation beneath the lip section 22 for engagement by the end of the bulb member L, all as clearly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

A recessed opening 31 is provided in the side wall of the body and tray respectively, and a switch plug 32 is mounted in said recess with the end of the plug engaging an opening 33 provided in the terminal leg 27, and a shoulder 34 is provided on the plug as shown, and bears against the recessed area, so that inward pressure on the plug forces the terminal leg 27 transversely into engagement with the battery contact 28 and energizes the bulb L accordingly.

We wish to direct particular attention to the fact that the exposed end of the switch plug 32 is disposed within this recessed area 31 and does not extend beyond the marginal limits of the body.

A tray cover 36 is mounted on and forms a closure for the open face of the tray 15 (see FIG. 6 of the draw-' ings), one end being formed with a depending leg 37 ing 41 is provided in the face of the cover 36 and they end of the light bulb L projects therethrough.

An upwardly pressed, inclined section 42 is provided in the face of the cover 11 to accommodate the light bulb L, the raised or forward end of the inclined section terminating in a wall in which is an opening 43 to accommodate the end of the light bulb L, so that the compact may be used as a light source or means for locating articles or places in the dark or for any other purpose.

Make-up articles, such as face powder, lipstick, powder puif, etc., M, are carried in the area directly adjacent the lighting unit, and when it is desired to use the compact for make-up, the cover 11 is swung to open position, see

this switch .is of the same general design as'that tpreviously described excepting that a verticallyidisposed extension 44 is-providedon the upper edgeof the leg 27 of the contact terminal 26, this extension projecting through a slit 45 formed in the face of the tray cover36 and bearing against the inner face of cover 11, forcing said resilient'leg away fromthe end of the battery contact 28 when thecover is closed; but whenthe cover is swung to open 'posi-tion, the resilient leg27 springs sidewise into engagement with the battery contact '28,'and' the light will then be energized, until such time as the cover is again closed. a

This model is also provided with means for manually energizing the light source when the cover is'closed, it is merely necessary to provide the switch plug 32 in "the side wall of the case, seeFIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, and inward pressure on said 'plug forces the resilient leg 27 into engagement with the battery'terminal 28 (see broken lines in FIG. 5 of the drawing), this permits manual actuation of the switch to energize thelight'bulb when the cover is closed. Release of the switch plug permits the leg to spring back to original positionto disconnect the light source.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that we have perfected a very simple, practical and attractive, illuminated compact which can be mass produced and which is of neat and pleasaing appearance.

What we claim is:

An illuminated compact comprising a base member having side walls and front and rear walls; an enclosed tray unit removably received in'said basemember-at the rear thereof, said tray unit having an opening in its upper wall; an electrical circuit supported in said tray unit and 7 including a battery, a manually operable switch and an electric bulb, said switch extending through an opening formed in one of the side walls of said base member for actuation externally thereof, said opening being recessed inwardly of said base member and said switch terminating withing the confines of the recess; means supporting said bulb in said tray unit at a forward, upward inclination, said bulb extending through the opening in the upper wall of said tray unit to a level beyond theside walls of said base member; a cover member; meanshinging. said covermember to said rear wall of said base member for swinging movement from a first-"position in which it closes said base member to a second position in which it opens said base member, said coyer-mernber having an outwardly pressed portion that is inclined up.- .wardly and forwardly to correspond substantially to the inclination of said bulb, said'pressed portion-terminating at its forward end in a wall that is apertured "to receive and accommodate said bulb when said cover is-in its said second-position; and reflective means on the inner surface .of'said cover memberforwardly of said pressed portion.

References-Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,0 70,8 57 'Davis ,Feb. 16, 1937 2,333,891 Schreyer et 'al 'Nov. .9, 19.43 2,465,114 {Gary Mar. 22, 1949 2,490,352 etal. Dec. 6, 1949 2,529,972 Scott Nov. 14, 1950 

